Toy building set and disc-like units therefor

ABSTRACT

In a toy building set, disc-like toy unit each have spaced flexible rims defining a peripheral slotted portion between; the rims being undercut along their inner walls and terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall on the hub of the body. A modified form has radially slotted rims. The toy unit serves as a female connector for other toy members sized for a releasable fitted connection thereto or may define a wheel, gear, sprocket or the like in the building of mechanical toys.

United States Patent Witte [451 Apr. 11, 1972 54] TOY BUILDING SET AND DISC-LIKE 2,841,918 7/1958 Sylwan ..46/29 UNITS THEREFOR P EX R b P h k rima aminero ert es 0c [72] Inventor: Don C. Witte, Salma Star Route, Boulder, g, Lever Colo 80302 AttorneyJohn E. Reilly [22] Filed: May 7, 1969 57 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 822,507 I 1 In a toy building set, disc-like toy unit each have spaced flexible rims defining a peripheral slotted portion between; the [52] US. Cl rims being undercut along their inner walls and terminating in [51] i 32/22 an inner peripheral concave wall on the hub of the body. A [58] new of modified form has radially slotted rims. The toy unit serves as 56 R f Cited a female connector for other toy members sized for a releasa- 1 e erences ble fitted connection thereto or may define a wheel, gear,

UNITED STATES PATENTS sprocket or the like in the building of mechanical toys.

2,027,885 1/1936 Schwarzbach ..46/29 9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 15 14 I 7 l8 I I I I9 l 1, 2| 2| b 2|c1 PATENTEDAPR n ma SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR DON C. W/TTE K %Zfgz4 ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 sum 2 0F 2 INVEN TOR DON C. WITT E;

} ATTORA'IFY TOY BUILDING SET AND DISC-LIKE UNITS THEREFOR This invention relates to toy building sets and disc-like toy units for such sets.

Building toys which are assembled into structures intended to simulate full-sized objects heretofore have been provided in a variety of forms and are conventionally provided with releasable connectors to facilitate their assembly and disassembly. For the most part, a relatively different type of toy has been employed as a mechanical device for a gear, wheel, sprocket and the like, than for structural members to make static structures, such as buildings, furniture, dolls and the like. It is readily apparent that the cost of the sets may be reduced if the same basic toy can be used for both types of toys.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, durable and relatively inexpensive disc-like toy which is readily used to construct mechanical and static toys.

Another object of this invention is to provide a generally disc-like toy unit having a peripheral slot forming a socket to slidably receive and releasably clamp generally circularshaped toy members which are sized for a releasable fitted connection therewith.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a basic toy building unit which is readily conformable for use as a female connector, sprocket, wheel, gear and the like, and which with slight modification can be utilized in a building set in a wide variety of ways.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided for a building set disc-like toy units each having spaced flexible rims defining a peripheral slotted portion therebetween. The rims are undercut along their inner side walls and the inner side walls terminate in an inner peripheral concave wall to define a narrower entrance leading to a wider inner area. The slotted portion is adapted to receive elements which are sized for insertion therein. Radially slotted rims provide added flexibility for connection purposes and facilitate use of each unit as a wheel, sprocket or gear for mechanical toys. The hub of the toy unit is hollow and has generally cylindrical slotted extensions which are secured to a series of the toy units along a common axis for conjoint rotation on a shaft or rod. A flexible band may be releasably fitted into the slotted portion to serve as a tread for a tire, and the band includes teeth or ribs which will also mesh with the radial slots on the disc-like toy unit.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a disc-like toy unit having a generally circular rod releasably fitted into its peripheral slotted portion.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view of an assembly of two parallel rods secured in spaced relation by a pair of disclike toy units.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a modified form of disclike toy unit having radial slots arranged in the rim and a fragment of a flexible band forcibly fitted into its peripheral slotted portion.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the flexible band shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the radially slotted disc-like toy unit having a terminal spherical member forcibly fitted into its peripheral slot.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a set of similar disc-like toy units interlocked together and to a shaft by a locking hub.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the locking hub.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the locking hub.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a disc-like toy unit having its peripheral teeth disposed in a meshing relation with the teeth of a flexible band mounted on a second disc-like toy unit.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 12l2 ofFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the slotted rims of a toy unit in a meshing relation to a flexible band in a parallel drive arrangement.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a radially slotted rim in meshing relation to a flexible band in a rightangle drive arrangement; and

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a power transmission train including radially slotted disc-like toy units employed as sprockets coupled by an endless chain.

Referring now to the drawings, one basic toy unit 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in general comprises a generally circular or disc-like shaped body 12 having spaced flexible rims 13 and 14 defining a peripheral slotted portion 15 therebetween. The slotted portion shown has an inner generally circular contour formed on a radius r, the center of which is inwardly of the peripheral edges of the rims so that there is defined an open, generally circular socket area which is of a uniform, cross-sectional shape around the circumference of the body 12. This generally concave shaping of the slotted portion provides a narrow peripheral entrance leading into undercut portions 17 and 18 along the inner side walls of the rims 13 and 14, respectively, which terminate in an inner peripheral concave wall 19 in the hub or base of the body. While the generally circular shape is preferred for the socket areas it is understood that the other generally undercut shapes and a narrowed entrance could also be used to effect gripping engagement of objects fitted in the slotted portion. The disc-shaped body has a centrally disposed hollow hub 21 which permits insertion of a rod or shaft for rotation thereon with generally hollow cylindrical extensions 21a and 21b at each end.

A circular rod 22 is shown in the slotted portion 15 clamped between the flexible rims l3 and 14 which is disposed at a tangent to its disc-shaped body 12. In connecting the toy disc-like unit 11 to the rod 22 or a similar member of a generally circular cross-section, the ends of the flexible rims 13 and 14 will initially expand and then return to approximately their original position; the rod being held in a mechanical interlocking interference or friction fit permitting the disc-like toy unit 11 to roll along the rod in either direction as indicated by arrows and at the same time remain firmly clamped to the rod 22.

A typical assembled toy shown in FIG. 3 comprises a pair of disc-like toy units 24 and 25 having spaced flexible rims and a peripheral slotted portion similar to those above described in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a pair of circular rods 26 and 27 clamped in opposite sides of the slotted portions so that the rods are held in parallel to one another with each being tangent to the unit to which it is fastened. These rods are gripped firmly and may be of substantial length to form the composite structure. One possible resultant use of the toy assembly would be as a boom on a toy earth-moving vehicle or the like.

A modified form of toy unit 31 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is similar to the toy units above described comprising a discshaped body 32 with spaced, flexible rims 33 and 34 defining a peripheral slotted portion 35. In this unit there is provided a series of radial slots 36 in one rim which are separated by a series of teeth or fingers 37 together with a series of radial slots 38 in another rim 34 which are separated by radial teeth or fingers 39; the slotted portions are preferably the same span or width as the teeth and the slots of one rim and are spaced circumferentially from the slots of the other rim so as to alternate from side to side. The outer edges of the teeth are rounded to work with gears and chains described hereafter. The alternating slot arrangement offers several advantages over the solid construction shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 in that the toy units may be formed in a two-piece mold when formed of a plastic material and the slotted construction provides greater flexibility in the expansion and contraction of the rims and independence between teeth for an easier insertion of toy members into the peripheral slotted portion. The hub 41 has hollow cylindrical extensions 41a and 41b on each side; each extension being split or slotted by the removal of a section with parallel sides through the center thereof which extend radially at their outer ends. The remaining portions forming split hub sections 42 and 43. Each hub section is bevelled or inclined along a radial line at each end designated 44 and 45; the hub sections each span an arc of about 91 and the outer ends of the removed slotted portion span an arc of about 89. This split hub construction permits the radial edges of the hollow cylindrical hub extension of one unit to be forcibly fitted between the radial edges of another unit when rotated at 90 to one another to provide for conjoint movement about a common axis described hereafter. Unit 31 is also provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures 46 molded therein to save material which will accommodate rods axially thereof if desired.

A demountable, flexible band or annulus 51 is shown as mounted on the peripheral unit 31 and comprises a base portion 52 sized for being forcibly inserted into the peripheral slot 35 together with two series of peripherally arranged teeth 53 and 54; one series of teeth being circumferentially spaced from the other series so that the intervening slot between two teeth of one series is directly opposite a tooth of the other series.

The radially slotted unit 31 will slidably receive a rod as shown in FIG. 1 or a generally spherical element 56 which is shown fitted therein in FIG. 7. The spherical element 56 is sized so that it bears against the inner wall of tooth 39 on one side and against the oppositely disposed edges of two teeth 37 on the other side. A typical toy member will have a narrow shaft extension 56a which will extend through the slot 36 between two teeth. This spherical shaped body 56 will be free to be forcibly moved in a generally elliptical pattern and its extension 56a projects through the slot between the two teeth, for additional flexural movement.

As shown in FIG. 8 the slotted portion of the hub extension of one unit 31 will interfit with the hub extension on a second similar toy unit when one is rotated 90 relative to the other; the two units being shown as mounted on a common shaft 62. The opposed split sections of the hubs have their bevelled sides in a friction or interference fit with one another for a firm locking engagement during conjoint rotation on the shaft. A locking hub 63 is shown mounted on shaft 62 having an end portion with parallel sides arranged to releasably fit into the central slot defined by inner parallel sides in the hub extensions. This locking hub 63 as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is characterized by the removal from a hollow cylindrical body of opposed peripheral segments along parallel lines to form a pair of opposed segments 64 and 65. These segments are split or divided by the provision of a radial slot 67 thereacross, and are proportioned so that they will slide between the segments 42 and 43 in the disc-like toy unit 31 above described. The locking hub has an internal circumferentially extending bump or inturned projection 66 which is sized to fit over and frictionally engage the rod 62 in an interference fit to lock one or more of the toy units onto the shaft for conjoint rotation. In this manner each of the units will rotate independently on the shaft to function as idlers or may be locked together and locked to the shaft by hub 63 to rotate conjointly on the shaft for use as a drive gear or sprocket in a gear train assembly. Another example is to use the toy unit 31 having a peripheral flexible band 51 with the composite assembly being locked to the shaft by a locking hub 63 as the wheel for a vehicle or a gear in a gear train.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 a disc-like toy unit 31 with a flexible band 51 mounted thereon may be disposed in an inline or end-to-end parallel manner so that the teeth will mesh with those of a toy unit 31 in an aligned relationship so as to permit both series of teeth of one unit to drive or to be driven by both series of teeth of the other in a gear train assembly. Another arrangement is to offset the toys so that only one series of teeth are meshing with one series of teeth in the flexible band when they are axially displaced as shown in FIG. 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 14 the one series of teeth on a toy unit 31 will mesh with the series of teeth on a flexible band when aligned at right angles to one another for a right angle drive.

A typical sprocket assembly is illustrated in FIG. 15 wherein a toy unit 31 is shown as being coupled to a toy unit of a smaller diameter designated 31a by an endless chain 71. Another toy unit 31 is locked against the smaller unit 31a for conjoint rotation therewith by locking the hub extensions of the two coaxially arranged units together as shown in FIG. 8 and in turn they are locked on the common shaft by a locking hub so that there may be a change of speed between the two disc-like larger diameter units in a typical power transmission assembly. A peripheral belt 72 is shown mounted in the peripheral slot of one unit to illustrate an added feature of the slotted peripheral portion in a sprocket assembly.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the material of which the toy units are made must have substantial resiliency to spread apart when a male element such as a rod or ball-shaped member is forced thereinto. The male element is slightly larger than the socket area. A typical diameter for the male element is a diameter of 0.20 inches and the slotted area of 0.188 inches. This provides a mechanical clamping action with a firm bond between members together with a snap action which makes them enjoyable for children to assembly and disassemble. The toy units are preferably formed of a plastic composition such as a high impact polystyrene in any of many bright colors. The flexible band is preferably formed of a rubber composition or a flexible plastic composition such as a flexible vinyl.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that changes in details of structure and system components may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy building set, a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced circular flexible rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut on its inner side wall and with the inner side walls terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, and a toy member press-fitted into the slotted portion of said toy unit at any position along its entire periphery to form a releasable locking connection therewith while permitting forced relative movement therebetween.

2. In a toy building set as defined in claim 1 wherein said toy member is a rod which is supported at a tangent to said discshaped body.

3. In a toy building set as defined in claim 1 wherein said toy member has a generally spherical portion press-fitted into said slotted portion and releasable by flexing portions of said spaced rims embracing said toy member.

4. In a toy building set, the combination of a pair of toy units, each unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced flexible circular rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween and a pair of rods press-fitted in the slotted portions of said toy units on opposite sides thereof and causing an expansion of said rims and releasable by flexing portions of said rims embracing said rods, said rods being held by said toy units in a parallel relation to one another with the toy units forming the end parts of an open box-like structure.

5. In a toy building set, the combination of a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body, spaced flexible circular rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut along its inner side wall and terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, each said rim having circumferentially spaced radial slots, the radial slots of one rim being displaced from the radial slots of the other rim so that the slots alternate from side to side, and a flexible band having a base portion press-fitted into the slotted portion, said band having two series of peripheral teeth formed on its outer surface with one series of teeth being circumferentially displaced from the other series to mesh with the alternating slots on the rim of a similar toy unit.

6. In a toy building set, the combination of a shaft, a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced circular flexible rims on each side with a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut along its inner side wall and with the inner side walls terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, said body having a central hollow hub with hollow generally cylindrical extensions on each end, each extension having a slotted section removed, a ho]- low locking hub member mounted on the shaft having opposed central segments with generally parallel sides sized to frictionally fit in the slotted portion of a hub extension, said locking hub having an inner bump at one end for locking it and the toy unit to the shaft for conjoint relation on the shaft.

7. In a toy building set as set forth in claim 6 including a second toy unit with a corresponding slotted central hub extension, said second central hub extension being press-fitted to the first mentioned central hub extension to lock both toy units for conjoint rotational movement with the shaft.

8. In a toy building set, the combination of a toy unit comprising a disc-shaped body, spaced circular rims which are flexible and having a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut along its inner side wall with said inner side walls terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, each said rim forming a set of uniform radially extending teeth separated by uniform radial slots, said teeth being displaced circumferentially from one side to the other side of the body, and a toy member having a spherical element fitted in the slotted portion and held between a tooth on one side and the opposed edges of spaced teeth on the other side to permit forced rotational movement of the spherical element relative to said toy unit.

9. In a building toy set, the combination of a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced, circular flexible rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, a flexible band on said unit having a base portion fitted into said slotted portion, and a series of teeth on each side with the teeth alternating from side to side, a second toy unit comprising a disc-shaped body having spaced flexible rims defining a peripheral slotted portion therebetween, said second toy unit having a series of uniform teeth separated by slots with said teeth being displaced circumferentially from one side to the other, the teeth on said band being in a meshing relation with the teeth on said second toy unit so as to be driven conjointly during the rotation of said first or second toy units. 

1. In a toy building set, a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced circular flexible rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut on its inner side wall and with the inner side walls terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, and a toy member press-fitted into the slotted portion of said toy unit at any position along its entirE periphery to form a releasable locking connection therewith while permitting forced relative movement therebetween.
 2. In a toy building set as defined in claim 1 wherein said toy member is a rod which is supported at a tangent to said disc-shaped body.
 3. In a toy building set as defined in claim 1 wherein said toy member has a generally spherical portion press-fitted into said slotted portion and releasable by flexing portions of said spaced rims embracing said toy member.
 4. In a toy building set, the combination of a pair of toy units, each unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced flexible circular rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween and a pair of rods press-fitted in the slotted portions of said toy units on opposite sides thereof and causing an expansion of said rims and releasable by flexing portions of said rims embracing said rods, said rods being held by said toy units in a parallel relation to one another with the toy units forming the end parts of an open box-like structure.
 5. In a toy building set, the combination of a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body, spaced flexible circular rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut along its inner side wall and terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, each said rim having circumferentially spaced radial slots, the radial slots of one rim being displaced from the radial slots of the other rim so that the slots alternate from side to side, and a flexible band having a base portion press-fitted into the slotted portion, said band having two series of peripheral teeth formed on its outer surface with one series of teeth being circumferentially displaced from the other series to mesh with the alternating slots on the rim of a similar toy unit.
 6. In a toy building set, the combination of a shaft, a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced circular flexible rims on each side with a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut along its inner side wall and with the inner side walls terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, said body having a central hollow hub with hollow generally cylindrical extensions on each end, each extension having a slotted section removed, a hollow locking hub member mounted on the shaft having opposed central segments with generally parallel sides sized to frictionally fit in the slotted portion of a hub extension, said locking hub having an inner bump at one end for locking it and the toy unit to the shaft for conjoint relation on the shaft.
 7. In a toy building set as set forth in claim 6 including a second toy unit with a corresponding slotted central hub extension, said second central hub extension being press-fitted to the first mentioned central hub extension to lock both toy units for conjoint rotational movement with the shaft.
 8. In a toy building set, the combination of a toy unit comprising a disc-shaped body, spaced circular rims which are flexible and having a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, each said rim being undercut along its inner side wall with said inner side walls terminating in an inner peripheral concave wall, each said rim forming a set of uniform radially extending teeth separated by uniform radial slots, said teeth being displaced circumferentially from one side to the other side of the body, and a toy member having a spherical element fitted in the slotted portion and held between a tooth on one side and the opposed edges of spaced teeth on the other side to permit forced rotational movement of the spherical element relative to said toy unit.
 9. In a building toy set, the combination of a toy unit comprising a generally disc-shaped body having spaced, circular flexible rims defining a circular peripheral slotted portion therebetween, a flexible band on said unit having a base portion fitted into said slotted portion, and a series of teeth on eacH side with the teeth alternating from side to side, a second toy unit comprising a disc-shaped body having spaced flexible rims defining a peripheral slotted portion therebetween, said second toy unit having a series of uniform teeth separated by slots with said teeth being displaced circumferentially from one side to the other, the teeth on said band being in a meshing relation with the teeth on said second toy unit so as to be driven conjointly during the rotation of said first or second toy units. 